A shortage of bouncers in the UK could delay the reopening of bars and clubs in June.
According to a report by the Telegraph, only 40% door supervisor positions are currently filled.
The UK Door Security Association (UKDSA) said the “exodus” of bouncers is due to many finding “different roles within the private security industry” as a result of the pandemic.
Also as a quarter of the UK’s security workforce is made up of non-UK nationals, the UKDSA also said Brexit may have had an impact on the lack of bouncers and said its members reported that “a number of European staff have returned to their home countries”.
The UKDSA believe the shortage of bouncers will put further pressure on bars and clubs, who could open as early as June 21st according to Boris Johnson’s roadmap out of lockdown.
“The events sector is planning to condense a traditionally long spring and summer calendar into the late summer period, which will add further resourcing pressures to the security sector,” a UKDSA spokesperson said.
The association are calling for new security training regulations, which are set to come into force in April, to be delayed to help venues and events recruit staff more quickly.
Michael Kill, chief executive of the Night Time Industries Association (NTIA) said: “We rely heavily on licensed door supervisors to keep staff and customers safe.
“With the additional responsibility of public health … it is even more important that we remove barriers to ensure that we are able to fulfil the resource requirement.”